Apparatus for setting up skittle pins



Dec. 11, 1928. 1,695,209

H. SCHWARZ APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP SKITTLE PINS Filed Dec. 20, 1927 1917'1 5 i i -7 7- :ii 5 i i i f A| l Patented Dec. 11, 1928.

UNITED srares 1,695,209 Artur oFFICE.

HEBMNN SCHWARZ, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY.

Application filed December 20, 192'?, Serial No. 241,390, and in GermanySeptember 23, 1926.

Apparatus is in existence for the setting up of the pins in skittlealleys by means of flexible pulling members which pass through verticaltubes in the platform usually em- 5 ployed as the skittle court.

The apparatus according to the present invention differs from this wellknown appara.- tus by the pins standing merely on the vertical tubes andnot on the platform and by l the tubes in question being provided withvertical longitudinal slots for the passage of arms attached to framesvertically adjustable under the platform by means of endless chains,these arms being provided with bores or openings for the passage of themembers which pull on the pins, whilst the tubes on which the pins standpass into openings in the platform which are upwardly flared so thatwhen the platform is raised by the setting gear the pins are also raisedor set up.

A construction according to the invention is illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawing in which Figures 1-3 show the mostessential parts of the apparatus in partial vertical section, with thesetting gear in different positions.

Figure 4 shows the upper part of a tube for the pin, with the lower partof a pin standing on it, the skittle platform and a part of the framearranged below the latter, with the corresponding arm projecting intothe tube and intended for guiding and stretching the pulling member, inpartial vertical section.

Figure is a. section on line A-B of Figure 4 and y Figure 6 shows meansfor operating the setting gear.

The tubes 1 for the pins are secured in vertical position in stepbearings 2 and pass through openings 3 correspondingly flared upwards ofthe usual platform or court 4 the upper surface of which is flush withthe upper ends of the tubes 1 (Figure 1). Below the platform 4 isarranged a frame 5 which is suspended by means of angle irons 6 onendless chains 9 passing over sprocket wheels 7 and. 3. To the frame 5are secured arms 10 which pass through vertical longitudinal slots 11ofthe tubes 1 and are provided with a bore 12 for the passage andguidance of the pulling members 13 each of which is secured to the eye14 of a bolt 16 mounted in an easily rotatable manner in the lowerhollowed out part of the pins 15, and is provided at the bottom end witha solid ball or plate 17. The

bolt 16 is mounted in a metal cap 18 secured to the bottom end of thepin 15, the said cap both protecting the pin 15 at this point from wearand ensuring that it always stands in a vertical position on the tube 1.

The operation of the apparatus described is as follows:

l/Vhen the pins are to be set up the frame 5 is pulled down by drivingthe four endless chains 9. As soon as the lower end of the arms strikesthe balls 17, the pulling members 13 which are preferably constituted bythin stranded steel wire, are stretched and the pins are first pulledwith their bottom end over the openings 3 of the platform 4. Shortlybefore the completion of the downward movement of the frame 5 thelateral chain projections or lugs 19 strike the raising rods 20, so thatat the end of the downward movement of the frame 5 the platform 4reaches the position shown in Figure 3 and brings the pins 15 into theupright position, the said pins being at the same time brought into theverical positionV above the centre of the tubes 1 owing to the openings3. By driving the four endless chains 9 in the opposite direction theframe 5 is raised again and the platform 4 returns to its originalposition.

For the driving of the setting gear or of the four endless chains 9operating means shown such as for example that shown in Figure 6 may beemployed. To the upper .left hand sprocket wheel spindle 21 is securedladjacent to the sprocket wheel 7 a sprocket wheel 22, and to the lowerright hand sprocket wheel spindle 23 adjacent to the sprocket wheel 8, asprocket wheel 24. An endless chain 25 passes over the sprocket wheel 22to a sprocket wheel 26, and an endless chain 27 passes over the sprocketwheel 24 to a sprocket wheel 28. Both endless chains 25 and 27 areparallel and positively connected together by means of chain cams 29 and30 as well as by a pulling cable 31 passing over a setting gear disc 32,in such a manner that when the y.setting lever 33 is turned into theposition shown in dotted lines in the direction ofthe arrow 34, theframe 5 will be pulled down by the driving of the endless chains 9,whilst it will be raised again when thev lever 33 is moved back.

Instead of the operating means shewn in Figure (3 any desiredconstruction suitable for the purpose in View, namely for driving thefour endless chains 9 may be used. The pulling cables 31 may be carriedto the playends of said pins and provided with balls at their lowerendsy a pair of endless drivingJ chains on which said frame issuspended, arms secured to said frame and provided with guiding boresfor said pulling members and means for driving said Achains to causesaid arms to Contact Wit-l1 said balls and thereby stretch saidpullingmembers and to raise said platform to secure said pins in thevertical position.

In testimony whereof l aiiix my signature.

HERMANN SCHWARZ.

